St James’s Park – with its grand view westwards to Buckingham Palace and eastwards to the majestic buildings of Whitehall – was established by King Henry VIII.

St James’s Park’s Lake in London

Address and postcode: St James’s Park, Westminster, London SW1A 2BJ

Nearest Underground Station: St James’s Park Station

From a Public Information Point at St James’s Park:

“Welcome to St James’s Park Lake

• A royal menagerie

What’s the link between a crocodile, five camels, a ‘red-wine loving’ elephant and a pelican? They have all inhabited St James’s Park. Don’t worry, the real crocodile and elephant were only here in the 17th century, when they were a gift from the King of Spain to James I!

• The Ambassador’s pelicans

Pelicans were first introduces to St James’s Park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador. This was the start of a long royal tradition for collecting exotic and unusual wildfowl. Today, over 30 species of waterfowl still breed on the lake including mallard, golden eye, tufted duck, shelduck and wigeon.

Writing in 1664, the famous diarist, John Evelyn, records a strange sight (amongst many) in St James’s Park. He saw a Balearian crane with a wooden leg, with a joint, made for the bird by a soldier! He noted that the crane could ” walk and use it as well as if had been natural”. He also speaks with interest of a solan goose, a stork, a milk-white raven and many other beasts and birds.”